Day 2 / Saturday, Aug 2. WELCOME TO BORDEAUXArrive at Bordeaux International Airport. Meet & greet by our English speaking staff.Board our coaches and transfer to CroisiEurope river cruise ship MS PRINCESSE AQUITAINE.mnThe MS Princesse d’Aquitaine is a 2-deck river cruise ship built in 2001 and refurbished in 2011, with 69 cabins (26 cabins on upper deck, 43 cabins on main deck)

Passengers are welcome to board our ship at 6 p.m. After comfortably settling into your cabins, we’ll introduce our crew at a welcome cocktail. Sit back and enjoy a presentation about your CroisiCyclo vacation. Dinner will be served on board, followed by an evening of entertainment.

Day 3 / Sunday, Aug 3. BORDEAUX - PAUILLACWe’ll spend the beginning of the morning cruising to Pauillac. Towards the middle of the morning, we’ll set off on our bikes for the day. We will first bike to Saint-Estèphe, a town famous for its Baroque architecture, and its stunning view of the Garonne. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll bike along some of the most prestigious vineyards in the world and catch a glimpse of some of France’s biggest wine estates. It will also be the opportunity to taste some wine in a world-famous castle renowned for its Bordeaux. On our way back to Pauillac, you'll be able to see a few prominent wine estates like Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Pichon Longeville Baron and Chateau Lynch-Bages. We’ll enjoy an evening of entertainment, and remain in port overnight.Biking itinerary: in the morning from Saint-Estèphe 7 mi./11.3 km. (249 ft./76 m. elevation gain) — in the afternoon from Pauillac 22 mi./35.4 km (698 ft./213 m. elevation gain)

Day 4 / Monday, Aug 4. PAUILLAC - Gironde Estuary - BLAYEWe’ll leave early and spend the morning cruising the Gironde to the estuary. We’ll cruise along the marshes and see the steep cliffs of Meschers-sur-Gironde, troglodyte homes and fishing cabins before reaching Blaye. We’ll leave on our bikes in the afternoon. The itinerary will bring you to Blaye, with its vineyards, rich croplands and castles. You’ll bike on hilly roads overlooking the magnificent Garonne area. You’ll pass through Plassac and its Roman ruins, Marmisson and its infamous troglodytes (entry fee not included), and Bayon-sur-Gironde—where you’ll have a stunning view of the “Bec d'Ambès,” the confluence of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. You’ll then head to Bourg. If you feel like it, you can bike a few miles more to Saint-Gervais, where you’ll be able to contemplate magnificent landscapes from the shadow of its medieval church, before returning to Blaye for the evening. After you return to the ship, enjoy an evening of dancing. We’ll remain in port overnight.Biking itinerary to Blaye: 19 mi./30.6 km. (1000 ft./305 m. elevation gain) - to Saint-Gervais: 31 mi./49.9 km. (1400 ft./427 m. elevation gain)

Day 5 / Tuesday, Aug 5. BLAYE - LIBOURNE or BOURG - CADILLACAll meals served on board. Our ship will cruise for Cadillac. Its preserved countryside, hilly landscapes and many small and quiet villages hold a wealthy heritage. You’ll start biking towards the south in the afternoon, along the Garonne. You’ll bike through the Sauternais, a region known for its sweet dessert wines, and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, where you’ll have a stunning view of the valley. The famous Sauternes and Barsac vineyards will be the highlight of today’s journey. You’ll bike past the Château d’Yquem, famous for its liquors and refined wines. Sauternes wine is world-famous for its quality and its unique sweetness. The region benefits from an oceanic climate, which favors the proliferation of the Botrytis cinerea fungus. This fungus confers the sweetness and distinct color to the Sauternes wine. After your day of biking, you’ll return to the ship. The evening is free to do as you please. We’ll remain in port overnight.Biking itinerary from Cadillac: 24 mi./38.6 km. (898 ft./274 m. elevation gain)

Day 6 / Wed August 6. LIBOURNE or BOURG - CADILLACAll meals served on board. Our ship will cruise for Cadillac. Its preserved countryside, hilly landscapes and many small and quiet villages hold a wealthy heritage. You’ll start biking towards the south in the afternoon, along the Garonne. You’ll bike through the Sauternais, a region known for its sweet dessert wines, and Sainte-Croix-du-Mont, where you’ll have a stunning view of the valley. The famous Sauternes and Barsac vineyards will be the highlight of today’s journey. You’ll bike past the Château d’Yquem, famous for its liquors and refined wines. Sauternes wine is world-famous for its quality and its unique sweetness. The region benefits from an oceanic climate, which favors the proliferation of the Botrytis cinerea fungus. This fungus confers the sweetness and distinct color to the Sauternes wine. After your day of biking, you’ll return to the ship. The evening is free to do as you please. We’ll remain in port overnight.Biking itinerary from Cadillac: 24 mi./38.6 km. (898 ft./274 m. elevation gain)

Day 7 / Thursday, August 7. CADILLAC - BORDEAUXAll meals served on board. We’ll start biking early this morning. While you’ll be enjoying the French scenery from your bike, the ship will cruise towards Bordeaux, its final destination. Your tour will begin with the fortified city of Cadillac and will end in Bordeaux. Stops are planned in La Sauve and Cenac. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch next to the Sauve-Majeure Abbey, which used to be a Benedictine monastery. Although it is in ruins, the abbey remains a tourist attraction thanks to its Romanesque architecture and sculpted capitals. This beautiful structure is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the afternoon, you’ll continue heading to Bordeaux, where you'll have the afternoon to roam across the city on your bike at your own pace. Tonight is our festive gala evening.Biking itinerary from La Sauve in the morning: 18 mi./29 km. (1400 ft./427 m. elevation gain); or from Latresne 28.5 mi./46.7 km. (1699 ft./518 m. elevation gain) - from Bordeaux in the afternoon: 36 mi./57.9 km. (1801 ft./549 m. elevation gain)

Day 8 Friday, Aug 8. BORDEAUX - Arcachon Bay - BORDEAUXAll meals included. Although your vacation is coming to an end, your adventure is not over. After breakfast, a minivan will drive you to your departure point on the Atlantic coast. After travelling through the vineyards, you’ll now discover the coast and the ocean. You’ll bike along the coast and the Pyla Dune, the tallest sand dune in Europe at more than 328 feet above sea level. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in Arcachon, a famous seaside resort frequented by aristocrats since the second half of the 19th century.After lunch, you’ll board a boat with your bike and head for Cap Ferret, renowned for its oyster farms. Once onshore, we’ll bike through a pine forest until we reach the shuttle, which will bring us back to the boat. We’ll return on board in Bordeaux at the end of our long day. After dinner, we’ll enjoy an evening of entertainment.Biking itinerary from Arcachon: 22 mi./35.4 km. (800 ft./244 m. elevation gain) — from Lège-Cap-Ferret: 35 mi./56.3 km. (1099 ft./335 m. elevation gain) - from the Atlantic Ocean: 45 mi./72.4 km. (1400 ft./427 m. elevation gain)

Day 9 / Saturday, August 9, 2018 – END OF CRUISE, DISEMBARKEnjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m.Transfer back to the Bordeaux Airport.

Ask us about our extension trip to the Loire Valley, Normandy Landing Beaches and Paris.